She was changing the subject and he was aware of it. He was also grossly unhappy that she wasn’t jumping on his offer, but he understood for the most part. It had been a turbulent day and a turbulent situation, and he was certain that she wasn’t thinking clearly. He thought that once she’d filled her belly and she’d had time to consider everything, that perhaps she would be more agreeable to his offer. If she was, then he would have to find a place to put her until the situation blew over. When the king went to St. Blitha in two days, he didn’t want her anywhere near the place.
He wanted her safe.
Collecting her hand as it rested on his arm, he held her cold digits in his big, rough palm. “I will get it for you,” he said. “But you will think on my offer. Swear it?”
She nodded steadily. “I am deeply grateful for it. And you.”
Maxton thought he sensed something in her tone, something that gave him great hope that, perhaps, she was feeling for him what he was feeling for her. He couldn’t even put it into words; all he knew was that he could see it in her eyes.
Impulsively, he put his arms around her and pulled her against him, his mouth slanting over hers to deliver a kiss that was warm and curious, tender and titillating. She stiffened at first, but only momentarily– quickly, he could feel her relaxing, surrendering to his power, and that only made him kiss her more deeply. She was warm and soft in his embrace, if not a bit bony, but it didn’t take away from his excitement or his enjoyment. He could also feel her hard belly pressing against his torso and, strangely enough, it excited him. Her fertility excited him. He found it alluring and womanly, all strange thoughts from a very unconventional man.
He could get used to the feel of her in his arms quite easily.
A knock on the door startled him and he quickly let her go, moving a few feet away as the door opened and the old servant woman appeared. When she saw Maxton in the chamber, she gasped.
“I’m sorry, m’lord,” she said. “I didn’t know you were here.”
Maxton took a couple of long strides and was at the door. “I was just leaving,” he said, pulling the panel open wide. “I will have food sent up to the lady.”
With that, he was gone, leaving the room unnaturally fast. Andressa stood there a moment, glancing at the old serving woman and wondering if the woman was thinking that he had behaved strangely. Did she know they’d been in a passionate embrace only moments before? Andressa’s cheeks felt hot and she put a hand to them, feeling the heat, knowing Maxton had put it there.
It had been a moment she never thought she’d experience, but it only served to confirm what she was already thinking– Maxton was a man of impulse, and that was exactly what his offer had been– impulsive. But he was also sweet, passionate, and wildly handsome.
And that kiss… she was still reeling from it.
Still, she couldn’t let him make such a mistake, and the truth was that she didn’t want to make a mistake, either. She’d already had one foolish moment in her life. She couldn’t stand to have another and possibly ruin Maxton’s life in the process.
“Come along, m’lady,” the old serving woman cut into her thoughts. “I’ve brought something that you can wear.”
As the old woman went to pull away the drying towel, Andressa balked. “Nay,” she said. “Not that clothing. Where is the garment you took from me?”
“The spots are being cleaned from it, m’lady.”
Andressa pushed aside the garment that the old woman was extending to her. “Bring it back to me,” she said. “Hurry, now. I do not wish to wear anything else.”
“But –”
“Now, please. Bring it in a hurry. I do not wish to catch a chill.”
Begrudgingly, the old woman left the chamber with the garment she had brought with her, a fine robe that belonged to William Marshal’s wife, and went down to the kitchens where a maid was scrubbing out the dirt from the rough woolen tunic. Collecting the half-cleaned garment, she took it back up to the stubborn lady, who took the garment from her and then asked for a blanket to cover herself with.
As the old serving women left Andressa alone to dress as she went on the blanket suitable for the young lady, Andressa very quickly pulled on her woolen garment and yanked on her shoes. The leather belt she wore was draped over a chair and she collected it quickly, rushing for the door as she tied it on.
Very quietly, she opened the chamber door, sticking her head out to see if anyone was around and, seeing that it was mostly vacant, she dashed from the door and down the stairs that led to the interior courtyard outside.
It was dark now, with dozens of torches lighting up the night, as she scurried through the courtyard and to the front gate. The gate guards were surprisingly willing to let her leave without so much as a word, and once the gate was opened for her, she slipped out into the night, braiding her freshly-washed hair as she rushed through the darkness, disappearing down the street on her way back to St. Blitha.
It wasn’t until nearly a half-hour later when Maxton returned that he discovered her missing.
No one had to tell him anything. He knew where she had gone.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Iwas toldyou were awake,” Alexander said. “How do you feel?”
While the men of Farringdon House were feasting in the hall and Maxton was off dealing with the St. Blitha pledge who had unknowingly solved all of their problems, Alexander had been informed that his prisoner had awoken from his drunken stupor. He’d left William and the other men supping on boiled beef to tend to Alasdair, who looked as if he’d been hit by an ale wagon and then some. The man groaned as he rubbed at his head.
“I feel as bad as ye smell, Sassenach,” he muttered. Then, he looked up at Alexander and seemed to have some clarity. The light of recognition went on in his eyes. “’Tis ye. I should have known. Are ye behind all of this, then?”
